Anxiety plagues SO many people. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affect 6.8 MILLION ADULTS or 3.1% of the U.S. Population. Yet, only 43.2% are receiving treatment.
The percentage of adults who experienced mild, moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety is the highest among those aged 18-29 and generally decreased with age.
Women are generally more likely to experience more symptoms than men.
Oof.
These stats MIGHT even be higher, since the past couple years seems to have increased the number of people with Anxiety. As a professional counselor, Anxiety is the #1 reason most people seek counseling.
So, what is anxiety anyway?
Anxiety is often described as a feeling of being “keyed up” or “on edge.” This can manifest itself in physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing. Anxiety can also cause mental symptoms such as racing thoughts, intrusive thoughts, and difficulty concentrating. It’s not unusual for someone with anxiety to feel like they’re constantly in fight-or-flight mode. This state of being can be extremely exhausting and make it difficult to relax or even sleep. If you’re feeling anxious, know that you’re not alone. Anxiety is a very common condition that can be managed with lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication.
Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. It's a real and debilitating condition that can have a profound impact on your life. But the good news is that there are treatments available that can help you manage your anxiety and live a healthy, happy life.
So, what can you do about anxiety?
Well, first, it's important to understand that some degree of anxiety IS normal. Everyone feels anxious at some point in their lives. And anxiety can even be helpful in some situations. For example, anxiety can help you perform better on a test or presentation by providing a shot of adrenaline.
That said, there are also times when anxiety is excessive and can interfere with your life. If you're struggling with anxiety, there are a number of things you can do to get it under control. You can try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation. You can also talk to a therapist or counselor who can help you develop healthy coping mechanisms and many more tools. There are a lot of lifestyle changes, dietary interventions and natural remedies that can also help support a reduction in anxiety. Finally, you can try medication if other interventions don't work. Whatever route you choose, know that help is available and anxiety doesn't have to rule your life.
(If you or someone you know are struggling with anxiety, however big or small, reach out for help. Once of my favorite supports is targeting GUT HEALTH that supports mood (another post coming on the gut!). If you want to grab a HAPPY MIND Pack, try it here with a $10 off coupon. It might be just enough to calm the nervous system and work on developing other tools to conquer ANXIETY for good!)
You CAN #liveyourbestlife!
xoxo, Judith
